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Google Home Gets 'Beauty & The Beast' Promo But Google Says It's Not an Ad (marketingland.com)

Posted by msmash on from the interesting-marketing dept.

Danny Sullivan, reporting for MarketingLand: Ask Google Home what your day is like today, and it will remind you that Disney's Beauty and the Beast is opening today. Google says this isn't an ad. But it's definitely an out-of-the-ordinary cooperation with a Google Home "partner." The promotion was spotted by Bryson Meunier, whose child was definitely excited to hear the news delivered by Google Home. "This isn't an ad; the beauty in the Assistant is that it invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales," a spokesperson said. The company doesn't list Disney as one of its partners on Google Home website, the report adds.

67 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. An ad by any other name... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Is still an annoying piece of shit.

  2. Welp, that makes my decision. by gweilo8888 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I was considering buying one of these for my kitchen. I'm not any more. I have no interest in adding more unsolicited advertising to my life.

    1. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Only a fool would put one of these eavesdropping devices in their homes on purpose. Don't let the feminine names fool you. They're no friend of yours.

    2. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by ctilsie242 · · Score: 2

      I have no need for one of these things. My smartphone can do voice stuff, why do I need another appliance that always listens and always uploads what is around it? If I want another device to watch what I do, I'll just buy another microwave.

    3. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by lgw · · Score: 1

      I was considering buying one of these for my kitchen. I'm not any more. I have no interest in adding more unsolicited advertising to my life.

      Is it in any way surprising that a home appliance sold by an advertising company starts ... advertising? I mean, really, who didn't see this coming.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    4. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by lgw · · Score: 2

      f I want another device to watch what I do, I'll just buy another microwave.

      No, no, you need a Nest thermostat in every room to watch you have sex, and some "smart" device in the bathroom to watch you poop. Can't we have some more enthusiasm around here for the internet of things that watch you poop?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    5. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      You don't leave it on all the time - you bring it out for parties. The drunker your friends are, the more fun.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    6. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      You want to listen in on my cell phone? You'll get a ring side auditory view of my back pocket. Only for the very desperate.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    7. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by Slashdot+Junky · · Score: 1

      ease dropping gps device

      GPS and location services are disabled on my phone, and I am one of the few that isn't on the add-on Apps bandwagon. So, it is just my carrier and the NSA that are tracking me and must do so only via the cell towers. I have accepted this as a necessary trade off.

      --
      .
      Landfill Mining Co.
      Managing the (Un)natural Resources of Tomorrow
    8. Re:Welp, that makes my decision. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Exactly what I'm talking about...

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  3. Umm, yes, it is an ad. by davecotter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "This isn't an ad" Umm, yes, it is. This is doublespeak.

    1. Re:Umm, yes, it is an ad. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Like how NPR doesn't have ads, they have 30 second messages from "contributors".

    2. Re:Umm, yes, it is an ad. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Everyone should re-read 1984 periodically. It's a good reminder. (This has been an official message from the Ministry of Truth.)

    3. Re:Umm, yes, it is an ad. by nmb3000 · · Score: 1

      Like how NPR doesn't have ads, they have 30 second messages from "contributors".

      I used to tolerate NPR's ads because they were short, all read by the same woman (with a nice soft radio voice), and infrequent. However I'd swear that in the last year they've increased the frequency and duration of them by at least 50% and changed voices to an unpleasant man's voice. I now mute the audio or switch stations when they come on.

      I abhor advertising and refuse to partake in it, so I usually pay for services. However if something like NPR is going to run ads anyway, why should I continue to donate to them? If Google is going to shove ads at us, why should I pay for their Home device?

      It used to be "free" or "ad-supported". Now companies want to double dip and make you pay to hear ads. Fuck that noise.

      --
      "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
      /)
  4. Renumeration by nightfire-unique · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Did Google receive any renumeration in exchange for inserting the message? If yes, then it is an ad. Full stop.

    --
    A government is a body of people notably ungoverned - AC
    1. Re:Renumeration by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      It doesn't matter if Google got paid for it. It's an ad either way.

    2. Re:Renumeration by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      I would contend that Google being paid for it is sufficient to make it an ad. Whether that's necessary, I don't know. If Google wasn't paid, it just noticed you buy midnight showing tickets to every Disney Princess movie, does that make this an ad or an assistant?

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    3. Re:Renumeration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's an ad, but not for Disney. It's an ad for Google Home. They did it so potential advertisers can see how "naturally" it can slip ads into people's lives in a new way.

    4. Re:Renumeration by akita · · Score: 1

      Mod this up ^^^

    5. Re:Renumeration by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      If Google wasn't paid, it just noticed you buy midnight showing tickets to every Disney Princess movie, does that make this an ad or an assistant?

      It would still be an ad, it would just be a solicited one rather than unsolicited.

      That may very well be what happened here, but I have my doubts because the person reporting it seemed to consider it surprising (which he wouldn't do if it was clearly the result of past behavior), and because Google didn't raise that as a defense.

    6. Re:Renumeration by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      Yes. Or, if the definition of "ad" is getting too loose, then it's certainly "marketing".

    7. Re:Renumeration by dv82 · · Score: 1

      *Remuneration*. It doesn't matter if Google was numbered again.

    8. Re:Renumeration by newslash.formatblows · · Score: 1

      Yes. They will now be known as 5.

    9. Re:Renumeration by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      It would still be an ad, it would just be a solicited one rather than unsolicited.

      If Google or Disney were saying "tell people who would like Disney Princess movies about this movie", I would totally agree with you. But what if* Google's algorithms think this is just news you would like, that X is happening (even if it costs money). I mean, how is that different from being told "those build the wall/impeach trump stickers you put a watch on are back in stock" or "they just released studies that eating a pound of bacon a day leads to immortality."

      *Obviously, in this case, it was a push ad. You can tell by the phrasing and other cues. I'm just picking at what the definition of an ad is.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    10. Re:Renumeration by PatientZero · · Score: 1

      Is it any different from Netflix showing you recommendations based on your past viewings and ratings?

      • * Google learned about the movie and that is targeted at kids. This is probably the subtle Disney ad ("be our guest") mentioning letting partners provide data, but they could also just have scanned movie listings like everyone else.
      • * They probably sussed out that you have kids.
      • * They recommended it based on these facts.

      It sure would be nice if you could turn these recommendations off, though. It's more bothersome because it's audible, delays the content you really want, and can't be easily ignored like an image off in the corner of a browser.

      --
      Freedom to fear. Freedom from thought. Freedom to kill.
      I guess the War on Terror really is about freedom!
    11. Re:Renumeration by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      "they just released studies that eating a pound of bacon a day leads to immortality."

      You cruel bastard, just for a split second you gave me hope.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  5. Playing with fire by nightfire-unique · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google is playing with fire here...

    I was quite literally just about to buy a Google Home speaker, but will hold off for now to see how this plays out. I don't do ads, and many millions of others also don't do ads.

    Greed may kill this product yet.

    --
    A government is a body of people notably ungoverned - AC
    1. Re:Playing with fire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I was quite literally just about to buy a voice activated advertising device from the world's biggest advertising company, but this slashvertisement about how an advertisement once heard on said device is not really an advertisement has really changed my mind!

    2. Re:Playing with fire by nightfire-unique · · Score: 1

      ?

      Until today, it appeared that there were no ads associated with the device in question.

      --
      A government is a body of people notably ungoverned - AC
    3. Re:Playing with fire by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      I don't do ads

      You are aware that Google is basically an advertising company?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  6. Just like Google Now... by Zargg · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.

    1. Re:Just like Google Now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Although you're very smart to connect the two, as it is common for browsers to 'offer suggestions & ads' based on browsing history: It does not matter. Such a question was not asked of the device.

      When one buys a home assistant, and it begins 'volunteering' unsolicited happenings around the community to you, those are ads.

      If you ASK it to tell you the latest happenings around the community that's different.

      The is literally The Truman Show in real life:
      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt01...

      Where the characters in the show would push, promote, sell, and pose with items while talking to Truman. Is really out of place with regular life & at odds with trustworthy conversation if there's always an agenda per conversation.

    2. Re:Just like Google Now... by jareth-0205 · · Score: 2

      I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.

      That is some backflipping you're doing there to excuse this. I'm usually reticent to jump on the bash-Google bandwagon, but this is pretty clearly a blatant advert. Listen to the wording and the music, it's not a 'helpful' message like the examples you give. In a reddit post author says "I don't believe I've done any searching for the film either, so I think it's not due to perceived interest."

    3. Re:Just like Google Now... by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      Probably, but then that makes it the very worst sort of ad: the targeted ad.

    4. Re:Just like Google Now... by el_chupanegre · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.

      You'd think that, but I very recently got a Google Now card right at the top of the list (ahead of weather etc. whereas that's normally the very top) which told me Nicki Minaj had a new album out. I've never listened to, searched for, bought or in any way shown an interest in that, and I've never been alerted to any band that I do actually listen to/search for having a new album out.

      It was immediately obvious that was 'sponsored content' and probably pushed out to millions of people, right on their home screen and right at the top where they can't miss it. If that's the kind of shit they want to start pulling, I'll stop using Google Now. It'd be a real shame as well because it actually finds things I genuinely am interested in every day

  7. Re:Just wondering -- by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

    A sentence like that just makes me want to grab my shotgun and but them out of my misery.

    --
    Time to offend someone
  8. Damn, Google by JohnFen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    At least have enough respect for people to be honest. Don't lie straight to our faces with that "it's not an ad" bullshit.

  9. It's not an ad, it's a mindfuck by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

    of course it's an advertisement.

    Google define: advertisement
    a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event

    a ... thing regarded as a means of recommending something.

    --

    Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
  10. These devices should be free by yobtah · · Score: 1

    I keep thinking the Amazon Echo and Google Home should be free because Amazon and Google are getting far more benefit from the devices than the purchasing consumers are. As it is, they're building Trojan horse devices for our living rooms *and* they're getting consumers to pay for them. If the devices were free, however, I suspect fewer people would want them because they would have less perceived value. By charging a substantial price for them, Amazon and Google make consumers think they're getting something valuable while also making more money. Making them free would effectively be admitting what they really are.

  11. Just...wow by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Funny

    “By the way, Disney’s live action Beauty and The Beast opens today. In this version of the story, Belle is the inventor instead of Maurice. That rings truer if you ask me. For some more movie fun, ask me something about Belle.”

    If this is 'Assistant' speaking, why is it giving OPINIONS on gender? If you read this as marketing copy, its easier to stomach, marketdroids are used to feeding you an opinion. However, if you take it as YOUR Assistant, the message is MUCH creepier. Its like hiring a secretary and them constantly saying 'brought to you by Carls Jr.'

    Either Assistant is a servant, or a salesperson, it cannot be both.

    --
    Good-bye
  12. Let me get this straight... by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 1

    You bought a device from a company that makes most of it's money from ads and you're surprised when it said device suddenly has ads... I'm not shocked about this and I'm surprised it took this long...

    I'm just surprised it wasn't like "Hey, I've checked your schedule and you've got a couple free hours tonight, based on your movie preferences you'll like Beauty and the Beast! It's showing at a theater that's 1.5 miles away from you! Would you like to purchase advanced tickets?"

    --
    Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
    1. Re:Let me get this straight... by Sebby · · Score: 1

      I'm just surprised it wasn't like "Hey, I've checked your schedule and you've got a couple free hours tonight, based on your movie preferences you'll like Beauty and the Beast! It's showing at a theater that's 1.5 miles away from you! Your tickets have been ordered and are ready for pickup."

      There, FTFY.

      --

      AC comments get piped to /dev/null
  13. Re:Just wondering -- by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

    Yes, I have heard people talk like this in meetings. Marketing/Management speak = Doublespeak.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  14. geeze Frye! by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    You didn't have advertising in the 20th century?

    Well sure, but not in our virtual assistants. Only on TV and radio, and in magazines, and movies, and at ball games... and on buses and milk cartons and t-shirts, and bananas and written on the sky. But not in our virtual assistants, no siree.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  15. Marketing Exec by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's not an AD it's SYNERGY (Jazz Hands)

  16. Disney Magic by Dareth · · Score: 1

    Google said, "it invites our partners to be our guest" be our guest, put our magic "it isn't an ad" to the test!

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
    1. Re:Disney Magic by Wiggin · · Score: 1

      Tie this noose 'round your neck, cherie and we'll provide the rest...

      --

      "I don't need a compass to tell me which way the wind shines." - Mr. Furious, Mystery Men
  17. Meta-Advertising by grasshoppa · · Score: 1

    "This isn't an ad; the beauty in the Assistant is that it invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales," a spokesperson said.

    You really have to hand it to Google, when they sell out, they go all the way.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
  18. Advertisements are like pornography... by yobtah · · Score: 1

    Difficult to define, but you generally know it when you see it. If this looks like an ad, it probably is.

  19. Insightful by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Sorry I don't have any mod points as that is the most insightful post I've seen in a while.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Insightful by galenanorth · · Score: 1

      Grandparent post is +10 insightful

  20. Makes my decision easy... never going to buy one! by felixrising · · Score: 1

    Far out, and they have the gaul to pretend it isn't an advertisement! This makes the decision very clear.... I *HATE* ads... like with a vengeance. Doing something like this is a breach of trust (yes, I know Google is an advertising company, but when I *pay* for a device I expect it not to also have ads. This is also the reason I have been holding off on buying a new laptop that runs Windows 10, I've seen the advertising M$ is doing in the interface ("Try Edge!", "Use OneDrive!", etc) and can't bring myself to jump ship from MacOS....

  21. I worked @ Disney by nastyphil · · Score: 1

    Believe me, this is not an ad in the same way that Clinton did not have sex with that woman.

    --
    Dialectician. Archology.
  22. weasel words by mr.dreadful · · Score: 2

    " invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales.." Ah, so this is a free showing?

  23. You are the product: All the time by VikingNation · · Score: 1

    There is no escaping companies using every means necessary to inject themselves into the hearts and minds of members of society.

  24. Re:No, not an ad by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    Three Drives for the King Bezos under Seattle's damp and dismal sky,
    Seven for the Mountain View Lords in their halls of glass.,
    Nine Drives for the poor AC trying to create a RAID array that is doomed to die,
    One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
    In the Land of Bellvue where the Shadows* lie.
    One Drive to rule them all, One Drive to find them (well, Bing, anyway)
    One Drive to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
    In the Land of Bellvue where the Shadows lie.

    * Basically like Seattle weather

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  25. Re:Truer by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 1

    "It's wrong to say a tomato is a vegetable. It's wronger to say it's a suspension bridge."

  26. Sweet! Can I share some tales? by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't mind getting millions of dollars in free advertising. I mean, it wasn't an 'ad' so Disney didn't pay anything for it, right?

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  27. it's a fucking ad by cas2000 · · Score: 1

    google can claim it's not an ad but that's exactly what it is.

    spammers also always say "my spam is not spam, it's important information that you need to know". they're fucking lying too.

    advertising in all its forms is a crime against humanity. manipulation, lies, deception, propaganda, psychic assault, normalisation - even reification - of consumption, and all the other varieties of bullshit.

    1. Re:it's a fucking ad by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      google can claim it's not an ad but that's exactly what it is.

      spammers also always say "my spam is not spam, it's important information that you need to know". they're fucking lying too.

      advertising in all its forms is a crime against humanity. manipulation, lies, deception, propaganda, psychic assault, normalisation - even reification - of consumption, and all the other varieties of bullshit.

      OK, but could you please let us know what you REALLY think about advertising?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    2. Re:it's a fucking ad by cas2000 · · Score: 1

      what do i really think?

      the problem might start getting solved if we hang a few thousand marketing people and advertising execs for their crimes. provide some disincentive.

      or, for poetic justice, drown them slowly in pits full of shit.

  28. Re:Makes my decision easy... never going to buy on by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

    when I *pay* for a device I expect it not to also have ads.

    Unfortunately things have never worked that way -- even going back to the early days of newspapers, you'd pay for a paper and still get ads in it.

    --
    This space intentionally left blank
  29. What wonderful tales our guests will share! by jensend · · Score: 1

    the beauty in the Assistant is that it invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales

    I, too, have partnered with Google, am your guest, and will share my tale.

    Once upon a time, in the far-off land of Nigeria, there lived a prince.

    This prince had inherited a fortune of FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS...

  30. Re: Makes my decision easy... never going to buy o by felixrising · · Score: 1

    You're right! Even the damn cinema that we pay like AU$22 to go to has 15-30 minutes of proper advertising before the feature starts!

  31. Re:Just wondering -- by guppysap13 · · Score: 1

    ...you guys haven't ever watched Beauty and the Beast, have you? There's a song in it titled "Be Our Guest" (I haven't watched it recently enough to know about 'share our tales'). The Google rep is just referencing the movie, and yes, that makes it sound exactly like an advertisement.

  32. Re:I want my assistant to inform me of events by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    And if there is some "ads" or hidden product placement suggestions, then that might just be the cost of using this to improve productivity and quality of life.

    I thought the cost was allowing Google to spy on you. That's already too high of a price for me, but putting ads on top of that makes it outrageously expensive.

  33. Re:Code by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    Google, like all ad companies, probably really believes that advertising is itself relevant content that people want.